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Preemergence weed control in cucumbers, pumpkins and squash

Editor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSUCrop Advisory Team
Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is
included.

Growers
have planted cucumbers, pumpkins and winter squash during the past two
weeks, and most preemergence herbicides have been applied. Heavy rains
fell this week in many areas of the state, raising concerns about the
potential for crop injury from herbicide movement into the root zone.

Grower concerns about herbicide injury to cucurbits is well-founded.
Curbit (ethalfluralin), Command (clomazone), and Sandea (halosulfuron)
all can cause injury to various cucurbit plants under adverse
conditions. Normally, timing and placement of the herbicides on the
surface provide sufficient selectivity for safe use of these herbicides.

Curbit normally is very safe on all of the cucurbits. However, it can
cause stunting and chlorosis (yellowing) of leaves during cool
conditions and after heavy rains. Curbit is very insoluble, so normally
it stays on the surface well away from germinating seeds. It can be
washed down into the soil by heavy rains. Crop injury appears as slow
growth and yellow plants. Roots of young plants are stunted. In extreme
conditions, stands can be reduced. Cucumbers are more susceptible to
this injury than larger-seeded pumpkins and squash. Normally, the plants
grow out of the injury as soon as the soil warms up.

Command always has the propensity to turn plants white. The cucurbits
normally grow out of the early bleaching and there is no adverse effect
on yield. Under extreme conditions, the bleaching may last longer, and
there may be some stand thinning. Cucumbers are the least susceptible of
the cucurbits. Bleaching will be most noticeable in bright orange and
bright pink types of squash which always are more susceptible to
bleaching.

Sandea may cause injury under normal growing conditions if not used
properly. Cucumbers are the most tolerant of Sandea. Pumpkins and squash
may be stunted or injured, or the stand may be thinned under cool, wet
conditions. Growers may use Sandea preemergence to control yellow
nutsedge, but often it is more useful for postemergence applications
when plants are 5 to 8 inches tall. To avoid crop injury, apply Sandea
as a directed spray to the areas between the rows. If stands have been
thinned after the recent wet, cool weather, do not reapply Sandea on the
same fields this year.

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